What they actually do.
THEY SET EXPECTATIONS
Most disputes arise because nobody stated the position.
A returns policy prevents an argument about whether returns are accepted.
THEY BUILD TRUST
A site with no terms, no privacy notice and no address looks improvised.
For an unfamiliar business, these pages are part of how visitors judge legitimacy.
THEY PROTECT YOU
Without stated terms, every disagreement is your word against the customer's.
THEY ARE FREQUENTLY REQUIRED
By data protection frameworks, by payment gateways, by marketplaces, and by app stores.
A payment gateway may require published terms and a refund policy before approving your account.
THEY ANSWER QUESTIONS
A customer wondering whether you deliver to their area, or how long refunds take, finds the answer instead of contacting you.
WHAT THEY ARE NOT
A substitute for behaving well. Terms do not protect a business that treats customers badly.
THE PRACTICAL POSITION
Write them because they prevent disputes and because customers look for them.
Compliance is a reason and not the only one.
